Saddam genocide charges dropped

[JURIST] The chief judge presiding over the genocide trial [JURIST news archive; BBC trial timeline] against Saddam Hussein for the deaths of 180,000 Kurds during the so-called "Anfal" campaigns [HRW backgrounder] dropped all charges against the former dictator as the trial reconvened Monday, saying Hussein's death was "confirmed." The court's decision came nine days after Hussein's execution [JURIST report], which prompted international objections [JURIST report] to the manner in which his hanging was carried out, including recording of the process by an unofficial video [WARNING: graphic images; JURIST report] with a camera phone and the taunting [JURIST report] of Hussein before his death.

Hussein's six co-defendants, leaders in his former regime, still face crimes against humanity charges in connection with the Anfal attacks during the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s. Not guilty pleas [JURIST report] have been entered for all defendants. AP has more.

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